Means for binding sheets



' July 1, 1930. FQULKS 1,768,593

MEANS FOR BINDING SHEETS Filed Jan 21. 1927 2 Sheets-Shept 1 INVENTOR. v

.ZZbzzZAus ATT RNE? July 1, 1930. J. E. FOULKS MEANS FOR BINDING SHEETS Filed Jan. 21, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 7E1?) lit;

ATT RNEY PatentedJuly JAMES E. FouLKs'oF snieiirwnrnnsgnnw yonxnssienon TocmMAx sTAirroNERYf I GOMPANYQINGQgOF NEW Y RK, 1\T.; Y.,.; A ooRPoRATIon on nnw'yonx'. v

- ZMEANVS on BINDING v srinii rs Application Jannarym, 19 271 Serial No, I G 2,G3 1 5 This invention" relates to the "binding ;of loose sheets andparticularly sheets of different sizes, and it is the object 'ofthe'in vention to provide an improvedniethod and Vmeans'for assemblingand binding the sheets ina sheet bodyj and'the' mounting of the sheetbody inafbinding' body and to pro:

vide a method and meansby which loose sheets may not onlybe moreoreadily and easily. bound, but in a less expensive andmore 'efiic'ient manne i i 1 -A further objectofthe invention relates to improved binders to be engaged in theperforations of sheets to be boundto assemble the sheets in .a sheet body on said' bind ers, and means engagedor interlocked withthe free ends of the bindersa't opposite sides of the sheet body'assemble'd' thereon to retain'the sheet body assembled onthe binders. In carrying out the invention binderscom prising strips of laterally pliable'and ed'ge Wise stiflfand readily severablejmaterial are folded upon themselves with a loop arranged vat the fold, although this is not absolutely ,zfi'essential, with the 'endsjofthe strip extending in parallel and jcontiguous relation; an

abutment in the form of a pin being engaged in the'fol'd, or within said fold ina tubular member haying a lateral slot for lateral engagement "onto I the' binder strip. The sheets to be bound are previously provided adjacentto one edge withspa'ced perforations conforming to the cross sectional shape of the binders, the b inders beingengaged in; said perforations vto assemble'the sheets 7 i i memento form a sheet body withthe loop arranged at the fold of the lstrips or said loop engaged in, the tubular member, abuttinga'gainst one side of the sheet body the e0 stripsjbeing of a l'engthto extend beyondthej' opposite side of the'gsheetbody.. "The free ends ofthe.blnderstripat theopposlte side sheet" y to Show; the inlwhich, i

of thesheet body arethen severed to a pie determined length and'eaoh end folded upon 15 itself when a longitudinally split tubular member isengagedhthereon similar to the tubular member engaged upon the 7, loop fat] the fold of the strip, and an abutment pin I Figure 5 isa frag 7 'ing' the cover sections of the binding body porti'ons of thefsheet body are trimmednanld the bound sheets in such condition may be stored away for futurefreference. yIf'vde-i sired, the sheet body may be mounted v binding body comprising a back with cover f orj'leaf sections connected thereto, saidgbind' p ingbody being arranged with al inedandf spaced tubular membersintheregion ofthe ers of the sheet bodyare interlocked by juncture of the cover sections withtherback v with which the tubularmembers on the bind-j I e inserting the bound sheet 'bodybetweenthe cover sections and interengaging or,iinter'-- posing said tubular, members: in: the spaces 3 between and in line with thejtubular memhere on the binding bodytand then engag- '7 ing Ipintles' in the alined tubular member s, v

said tubular members bei'ng'in the nature of knuckles;

mg a part of this specifieationFigure l is an endflelevatlonalTylew of. binding body I showing the arrangement.ofa'boundsheet 7 body mounted thereimf I b Figure 2'1sfa cross sectional yiew 'on an enlarged scale taken-on the line 2-2 of Figtaken on the line -8 3 in the direction of .thearrowsr i1 'Fi 'ure- 41s a perspectiie View to show In; the drawings accompanying and,form-- V theinounting of the binders of the'sheet body' on' 'nou'nun of the binding body.

entaryend viewgsh'ow-j 5 "plates constituing a part in open position as; well? as' the sheets of the Figure 6 is an endleleyation ofrabinder' with the tubular members: engaged thereon V to retainf the sheets; in; assembled ,p sition I 'on the binders from Whichthe binders are formed.

Figure 8 is a perspective View of the strip showing the same as arranged to form the binder. a

' Figure 9 is a fragmentary view of a sheet showing an arrangement of a perforation therein. a

'Figure 10 is a perspective view of one of the tubular members or knuckles for .engagement on the; binders to retain the sheets of the sheet body assembled on the binders.

Figure 11 is afragmentary perspectiveview showing the manner of assembling the sheets on the binders; and 1 Figures 12 to 18, inclusive, are a series of views in 'persp'ective showing the successive st'epsof the operation of folding the free ends of the binders preparatory to the engagement of a tubular member or knuckle thereon. V

In. the embodiment of the invention the sheets S are first arranged with spaced perforations 19 along one marginal portion.

These perforations maybe of any desired number, four being in the arrangement of binding means illustrated. The sheets of the sheet body are bound together by binders engaged in the; sheet perforations to ass'emblei the sheets on the binders to form a sheet body.

The binders comprise a strip 23, as shown in Figure 7, of flatlaterally pliable though edgewise stiff material, such asbrass or copper, the strip beingjfolde'd'up'on itself and T arranged with a loop portion 2 1- at the fold,

the two folded portions25 extending in contiguous parallel relation from'the loop'por- 'tion, as shown in Figure 8, The sheets are aSsembIedonsaid binders as shown in Figure 11 with the loop portion abutting against one side of the sheet body with the freeends extending beyond the side of the sheet body opposite to that against which the loop portion of ,theflbinders abuts. The free ends of the binders are severed, as by a pair of shears, to a predetermined length. To assure the severing ofthe 'ends'at the proper length a gaugemember 26 is provided. This gauge member is constructed of a sheet metal plate of" rectangular shape Witha central slot 27 cut into one end. and terminating within the'body of the plate; The opposite end of the plate is arranged with a reduced extend at a right angle to the body, as at 28. Inpractice the gauge is engaged flat upon the. sheetbody with the projecting, ends of" the binders engagedin the slot 27 in abut-' ting lrelation to the, end of the reduced portion 30, the ends of the bodybeing severed ata predeterminedpoint so that the portion binders, it-is preferable as it ands of the binder ends extending from'the top of the sheet body is equal in length to the height of the bent portion 28 of the gauge. The extended ends are then spread or bent laterally from the gauge portion at opposite sides of the slot 27, as at a in Figure 13. The gauge member is then moved forward so that the reduced portion 80, which is in the nature of a projection or tongue, will overlie and be contiguous to the spread ends of the binder. The ends are then bent inwardly upon themselves over the projection or tongue 30, as at b in Figure 1 1, when the reduced portion of the gauge member is withdrawn from engagement within the bent ends and they are forced together by a suitable tool, such as a hammer, thereby forming an abutment against the side of the sheet body, as at 0 in Figure 15.

To retain. the sheet body in assembled position on the binders, knuckles 31in the form of tubular members having a slot 82 cut into one end and terminating adjacent the opposite end, are engaged laterally upon the ends of the binders with the loop portion Qlwithin one knuckle and thefoldcd ends within the other knuckle, as shown in Figure 6, 'The size of the knuckles is such that they can be readily slid over the loop portion of the binders; In order that the knuckles may be engaged over the folded extended end of thebinder the folded portions 0 are bent up to slightly curved form in cross section by any suitable means, as

shown at din Figure 16, when one end portion is folded or pinchedftogether to permit of inserting the same into the slotted'end of aitubular member or knuckle, as at e in Figurel17, and the material being pliable as force is applied to theknuckle to slide it onto the. folded end of a hinder the material willvreadil'y formitself for engagement in the knuckle. Afterthe knuckle has been engaged upon the folded ends of the binder an abutment is engaged in the knuckle in interposed relation to said folded ends, said abutment being in the form ofa pointed pintleB'T shaping the folded binder ends as shown at 7 in Figure 18 facilita g the ready removal andengagement of the knuckle thereon. A similar pintle is engaged in the loop 24- of'the binder within the knuckle. These abutments firmly clamp the portions of the binder Within the knuckles, and secure the latter upon the bindersand prevent any strain; which may be applied to the binders, as by moving the bound sheets to open position and applying a force upon the'opeu and spread sheets, from pulling the binders from the knuckles.

While it is not absolutely essential toapl a knuckle member u 3011 the loo of the P y l l strength to the binder.

The method of, binding as described. is,

sheets'have been assembled and secured upon the binder into; a sheet bod'y -the irregular I particularly] adapt'e'd 'forthe binding ot loose sheets of irregular sizes "and after the edges of the sheet body are trimmedior cut ofi in'an ordinary paper cutter and thus squaring 'all of the edges. The bou d sheet body in such 'form may be filed, away "for: futurereferencei -Should'it be desired thesheet'body bound on the bin'd'ers as described "may be mounted or bound "ina binding body-Tor cover-{as shown in Figure 1. For thispurpose there is provideda bindingbody -01" cover com- "irisi'n' a back 200i curved iorm'in' cross sectionand ag pair of cover sectionsor leaves 21 movably connected'to the' b'ack, as a't 22, in the present instance-by a co'veringnn'a- V 'terial,-'such as canvas or buckram, forlthe back and cover leaves, the-back ndc ver leaves bein constructed ofzai rigid 'ma To mount the sheet body assembled on the,

binders in the binding body-the latter' is arranged with two rows of spaced and al'ined" knuckles or tubular members in the region from toform recesses '34 extending inward from'one longitudinal 'e'dge' and theplate is provided: with tongues 35I1the outer mar- 'gi'nal portion oi'whicharerolled to form" the knuckles, as shown at; 36. The platesf so formed are-provided Withperfofations 37,

through whichmea'ns are iinserted for cone necting" the" plates 'toi the'i-lba'ck with the knuckles to extend longitudinally and forwardly of the. longitudinal marginal "per-i tions ofrthe back, as clearlyxshown in' Figur'e ljby means of rivets enga ged'in theiplate perforations and correspondingly arranged perforations in'the back; In this arrangement the-pin'tles or abutments engaged with in the: binder knuckles *also serve to mount and secure the-bound sheet body in thebinding body. In themountingof the sheet body.

inthe 'binding body allthat is necessary is" to insert the sheet body:. rbetween. the cover '3 leaves and the knuckles 311 interengaged with the plate knuckles 36 by positioning the 1 the slot in the tubular members extends. only for portion-jot thelength 'the'reof amend knuckles-31 in the recesses-34o in alinedxrelation "withthe 1plate knuckles; when the pintle 37 initheform' of a rod is inserted into the alined openings inithelknuckles; andv 3; A'bin'd rasclainied irrclal-m 1 olded upon 'it'sel'f' with the "o in efi'ect provides ahinged connect'ion he-f tween the bound-sheet body and the binding body; -.By this arrangement as the cover leaves are moved to open position, as shown in Figure 5-, the sheets or leaves of the sheet body spread to position tolie contiguous to the cover and substantially fiat-and anypressure which maybe applied to the opposite C I cram-.1 l

spread portions of the sheet or'the H H compression forcewith which the."knucl' le I members hold-the sheets of thesh'eetbody upon the'binders; is increased, this being due to .the slight fiexing of the binders "in the directionof the'strain and the drawing the flexing pull on" the" binders. .I The force 'of -thesheets inoi'e fi rmly together through "The boundfsheet bodylmay 'be removably- 'mountedin the binding body by ma kingthe v 'pintle rod 37 of such; length "that .one end' will project from the knuckle plate 3 6 at the Y end'of thepl'ate- -However', to preventthe ready removal of'the'sheet' bodyfrom the,

binding body the knuckle at the one end I of the plates 33 is arranged as ablind knuckle, as shown at 39 in'Figure 3; and the pintlerods are ofless length thanthe knucklecar rying plates,"and as saidjrOdS are en aged in: the knucklesthey are driven tllelllb by: a suitable implement so that thefion'e end will be in engagement with the obstruction in the. end plate knuckle, and the otherend of the pintle willterminate Within theplate l knuckle at the opposite end of the pur s shown at'tOin-FigureQ. I '1 While l have illustrated one embodiment Oi" means for a method of bindingloose' leaf sheets in-a' sheet body and the mounting of i the bound sheet body ina binding body it will be obvious" that various'modificationsj maygbe made in the; coii'structio'n-and a r; rangementof parts, without departlng' from? the scope of the-invention and-that1-p0rtions' of the in'vention may be use d "without 1 others and come w thln theseopeofthejjinventionf ention 1 Having thus; j desoribedisam 1.--n 1"a binderforfiperforated' -loose se s; a strip of flexiblej" aateriaiinserted 'in-the" h e perforations extending beyond t e opposite side's fat e assembledsheetbody; slotted tubular nem:

ithth ends-of ta se bersiengage'd upon the-endsofthe strip aiid' Y m'eansf engaged in 'sai'd-ZtubUlar membersf to l co-operate "with 4 the portions of 'tliefistrip" i h th tu l r "m mb rs securflthe strip to? the latter-.

2. Abinder' as cla-in'ie'd nclaim 1 wherein i m mbers are adapteat teenga (ad-laterally;

onto the strip;

arrangedwich --1e 3pqt the foldfforY-the; engagement thereon of' the slotteditubular'i member, and jthe f i'iie'ans 'ins'ertedfin said. tubular} member -to secure the same on the loop of the binder strip is-engaged in said loop within the tubular member.

4. A binder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the strip is folded upon itself and arranged with a loop at the fold for the engagement thereon of the slotted tubular member, and

the means for engagement in the tubular member to secure said member ,on'the binder strip comprises pintles one of which is engaged in the looped fold of the strip in the tubular member. I .5. A binding. device comprising a rela- V tively-thin fiat strip, of laterally pliable and edgewise stiff material foldedupon itself intermediate the ends with the opposite end portions extending in the same direction in contiguous and parallel relation and arpanged with an open loop portion at the old.

6.- A binding device comprising i a strip of flat pliable material folded upon itself with the opposite end portions extending in contiguous and parallel relation, and a tubular member having a longitudinal slot for engagement over the. fold of the strip andadapted for engagementof a pintle therein within the fold of the strip. 7.;A binding device as claimed in claim 6," wherein they folded: portion of the stripto be engaged withinthe tubular member is 1 of open loop form, and the slot in the tubul ar member extends for only a portion of the v length thereof for limiting the movement of said member onto the strip. '8. Ina binder for perforated sheets, a

binding body, binders each comprising a strip of pliable material folded upon itself engaged in thesheet perforations to assemble the sheetsthereon, knuckle members engaged upon the free ends of-the strips, Y and plates mounted upon the binding body arranged with spaced; knuckles for the engagement, off the said knuckle members thereetween, and means engaged in the binder and plate. knuckles for connection-of the sheet body assembled on the binders with the bindingbody, and said means co operating with'the portions of the binder strips in theknuckles to -secure the knuckles on the binders.

9. 'Ina' binder for perforated sheets, a

binding body arranged with alined knuckle members, binderstrips of pliable material engaged in the sheet perforations to assemble the sheets in the sheetbody thereon, and knuckle members adapted for removable engagement upon the ends of the binder strips to abut the outer sheetsof the sheet bodyto retain the sheets assembled on said strips in a compressedv condition, and said knucklemembers'adapted to be interlocked with the knuckle 'members on the binding body In a binder for perforated sheets, a binding body arranged with alined'. knuckle members, binder strips of pliable material engaged in the sheet perforations to assemble the sheets in a sheet body thereon, knuckle members removably engaged upon the ends of the binder strips to abut the outer sheets of the sheet body to retain the sheets assembled on the binders under an adjustable compression, said knuckles being adapted. for engagement between. the knuckles on the binding body, and means adapted to be engagedin the knuckles for uniting the assembled sheet body with the binding body.

11. In a binding for perforated sheets, binders inserted in the sheet perforations and having sheets assembled thereon to form a sheet body, comprising a strip of pliable material folded upon itself and arranged at the fold with a loop portion for abutment against one side of the sheet. body, the folded body portions extending parallelly therefrom through the sheet perforations, the free ends of the body portions extending from one side of the sheets spread and folded upon themselves, knuckles engaged upon the tubular portion and free ends of l the binders, and plates adapted formounting on a binding body arranged for connection of the knuckles therewith for mounting V the sheet body assembled on the binders in the binding body. v

' v12. A binding body arrangedwitha back and a pair of covers movably connected therewith having a perforated sheet body interposed between said covers, binders of pliable material engagedin the perforations of the sheet body with the ends extending beyond the sides of the body, knuckle members arrangedfor lateral slidable' engagement onto the extended ends of the binders,"

.members to co-operate with the portions of the strips Within the tubular members to secure the strips in the tubular members. Signed at the city of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York this, 20th day of December, 1926. 1

1 JAMES E. FOULKS. 

